Method and system for gemstones

ABSTRACT

A gemstone cut into a round stone and method of cutting a gemstone are disclosed herein. More particularly, methods and systems for preparing gemstones having enhanced brilliance or for enhancing the brilliance of previously cut gemstones, and to the gemstones prepared are described herein.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/120,406 filed on Feb. 25, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention here is a directed to a method for preparing gemstones. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method and system for preparing gemstones having enhanced brilliance or for enhancing the brilliance of previously cut gemstones, and to the gemstones prepared.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to build upon the preexisting traditional round stone of 57 facets perfected by Marcel Tolkosky in 1919. Back then, Mr. Tolkowsky (without changing the facet arrangement or the number of facets on the stone) set rules to the 57 faceted round stone which today in the industry is referred to as “cut grade.” These rules lock in the angles of the eight main facets on the crown (bezels; Z of FIG. 1B) and the eight main facets on the bottom (pavilions; Y of FIG. 1C) so that when looking at the finished diamond from an aerial view there is an ideal light return.

The size of the table was also locked into a restricted range by Mr. Tolkowsky which is also a factor in today's “cut grade.” Before Mr. Tolkowsky introduced these rules, “Standard Cut” round stones were not strictly round. There was plenty of flexibility and diamonds could be off round to the naked eye. Mr. Tolkowsky limited this flexibility, thereby enabling bezels and pavilions to be equally cut into the girdle and on equal angles with each other. This is now referred to as “symmetry”.

Mr. Tolkowsky did not set rules to the auxiliary facets on the crown (eight stars; a of FIG. 1B and system top halves; b of FIG. 1B). Nor did he set rules to the auxiliary facets on the bottom (bottom halves; e of FIG. 1C). It was approximately 15 years ago when “cut grade” was added to the “symmetry” and “polish” grades on diamond certificates when rules were set to these auxiliary facets (see paragraph [0014] below), finalizing the modern cut, and enforcing Mr. Tolkowsky's rules on bezel angles, pavilion angles, girdle thickness, and table size. Being that Mr. Tolkowsky did not change the facet arrangement or the number of facets on the diamond, he could not have made the stars and top halves on the crown subject to the same critical crown angle of the bezels because the stars are forced to be cut at least 10 to 12 degrees lower than bezels, whereas the top halves (cut properly) (see FIG. 1A and discussion below in paragraph [0024] are forced to be approximately 6 degrees higher than bezels; z of FIG. 1B.

Procedures for cutting gemstones such as diamonds are set forth in Weitman, U.S. Pat. No. 8,297,075. This patent is incorporated herein in its entirety with respect to its teachings and background regarding cutting gemstones, bezel facets, star sets, upper girdle facet sets, facets, crown angles, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention builds upon this Modern Cut stone by adding 16 major facets on the crown which are called secondary bezels and are subject to crown angles, enabling the stars and top halves also to be subject to “crown angles” along with the bezels (z of FIG. 1B) described below in paragraph [0031] regarding stars and in paragraph [0032] regarding top halves.

Eight secondary pavilions are set in directly underneath the now light receivable stars to return light on those stars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a Modern Cut gemstone from which this present invention may be readily obtained without recutting the foundation of the standard diamond;

FIGS. 1B, 1C, and 1D are top, bottom and side views of a Modern Cut gemstone from which this present invention may be readily obtained without recutting the foundation of the standard diamond;;

FIGS. 2A-2K show cuts of various gemstones in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 5A-5C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 6A-6C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 7A-7D show side, top, and bottom views of a standard, round stone, gemstone from which this present invention may be readily obtained without recutting the foundation of the standard diamond;;

FIGS. 8A-8H show cuts of various gemstones in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 9A-9C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 10A-10D show side, top, and bottom views of a standard, round stone, gemstone from which this present invention may be readily obtained without recutting the foundation of the standard diamond;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 11E, 11F, 11G, 11H, 11J, and 11K_show cuts of various gemstones in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 12A-12C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 13A-13C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention; and

FIGS. 14A-14C show top, bottom and side views of a finished gemstone in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1A: Side view of Modern Cut with properly cut top halves indicated by V. The determining factor that they are properly cut is that the junctions where the top halves meet at the center of bezels are into the girdle identically to how deep into the girdle the junctions where the lines between the top halves are (as indicated by circles).

With reference to FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D: top, bottom, and side views of modern cut with side view 1D illustrating the properly cut top and bottom halves achieving an even girdle, as seen in FIG. 1D.

With reference to FIG. 2A: The inception of the first secondary bezel of pair of secondary bezels is shown with dotted lines indicating this facet when finished. Starting point is where two lines of star meet three lines of pair of top halves of traditional stone (see circle on FIG. 1B). Although this is a 5-sided facet with five points, only three points of this facet are critical with respect to their destinations. These are points a, b, and c indicated by their respective arrows in FIG. 2A. The locations of the other two points determining the destination of the line on the right of FIG. 2A are incidental and temporary as seen later in FIG. 2C. This facet is approximately 1½ degrees flatter than the primary bezels.

With reference to FIG. 2B: The finished secondary bezel of FIG. 2A is shown.

With reference to FIG. 2C: The inception of the second secondary bezel of a pair of secondary bezels is shown with dotted lines indicating this facet when finished. This facet begins virtually on the right line of the first finished secondary bezel shown in FIG. 2B indicated by arrows thus rendering this line temporary as discussed above in paragraph [0026]. The angle of this facet should be the same as the first finished secondary bezel of FIG. 2B. This facet is a 4-sided facet with four points in which all four points are critical with respect to their destinations illustrated by dotted lines indicating this facet when finished. It may also be noted that the first secondary bezel of FIG. 2B is turned from a pentagon to a polygon by this second secondary bezel.

With reference to FIG. 2D: The finished second secondary bezel of FIG. 2C is shown illustrating one pair of secondary bezels. It should be noted that this procedure is done eight times. The other seven procedures are begun on the other seven points (uncircled) where two lines of the stars meet three lines of the top halves in traditional stone of FIG. 1B as discussed in paragraph [0026]. It may also be noted that these eight pair of secondary bezels are basically the discovery of this invention.

With reference to FIG. 2E: The inception of the star being recut is shown. The eight stars of the traditional “modern cut” diamond could not have been subjected to the same critical crown angles of the bezels as discussed at the end of the first paragraph of “Background of the Invention”. It was mentioned several lines earlier in that same paragraph that rules were set “to these auxiliary facets” referring to stars (a of FIG. 1B), top halves (b of FIG. 1B), and bottom halves (e of FIG. 1C). Regarding the stars (a of FIG. 1B) there is one rule that they are subject to. That rule is that they must reach from the table approximately 50% to the girdle which is the point where the stars (a of FIG. 1B) touch the top halves (b of FIG. 1B) (see circle in FIG. 1B). In the present invention the same rule applies. The pair of secondary bezels (discussed in paragraphs [0026] through [0029] and illustrated in FIGS. 2A through 2D) render the stars (a of FIG. 1B) from 50% to the girdle (see circle in FIG. 1B) to approximately 15% to the girdle as seen in FIG. 2D. Therefore, the FIG. 2C illustrates the star being recut with the dotted lines indicating the finished star reaching approximately 50% to the girdle.

With reference to FIG. 2F: The finished star of FIG. 2E is shown. In the second paragraph of “Background of the Invention”, it was mentioned that the stars and top halves may also be “subject to crown angles along with the eight bezels”. In FIG. 2E the star is shown being recut from 15% to 50% as discussed above in paragraph [0030]. In order for the star to go through this procedure, although on paper it is identical to the traditional stars of (a) of FIG. 1B, on the diamond the star is approximately 7 or 8 degrees higher than it was before this procedure, and thus enables the stars to be subject to crown angles. The top halves of FIG. 2D remain on the same angle as FIG. 1B, but instead of reaching from the girdle, 50% to the table as in traditional “modern cut” as seen in FIG. 1B (50% point indicated by circle), they reach approximately only 25% and occupy much less area on the crown than the top halves of the traditional modern cut (FIG. 1B). Procedures of FIGS. 2G or 2I discussed above in paragraph [0032] or [0034] above may be eliminated, leaving FIG. 2F as an illustration of one version of a finished section of the present invention's facet arrangement on crown. (See FIG. 4A for this version's finished crown).

With reference to FIG. 2G: The inception of the pair of top halves (discussed in the second half of the previous paragraph) being recut is shown. As seen in illustrations FIG. 2A through FIG. 2D, the pair of secondary bezels left the stars and top halves of FIG. 1B short. As discussed in the previous paragraph, although the stars were recut back from 15% to 50%, the top halves were left short and approximately 6 degrees higher than bezels (see last line of paragraph [0002] above). As discussed in the previous paragraph's last sentence, that is one version of a finished section of the present invention's facet arrangement on crown. FIG. 2G offers a second version. Instead of leaving them short (25% to the table), they may be recut to be approximately 50% to the table (as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2G). In paragraph [0019] above it was mentioned that the stars and top halves may also be “subject to crown angles along with the eight bezels”. For the top halves to go through this procedure of FIG. 2G, these recut top halves will be approximately 4½ degrees flatter than top halves of FIG. 2F, thus enabling these top halves to be subject to crown angles.

With reference to FIG. 2H: The finished pair of top halves of FIG. 2G is shown. In this second version of the present invention's finished section, every facet may be subject to crown angles. (See FIG. 5A for this version's finished crown).

With reference to FIG. 2I: The inception of a pair of secondary top halves. FIG. 2I offers a third version of a finished section of the present invention's facet arrangement on crown. In this version instead of recutting the pair of top halves as in FIG. 2G, two secondary top halves are added. These two new facets are approximately 5 degrees flatter than top halves of FIG. 2F and may be subject to crown angles. The dotted lines indicate the finished secondary top halves.

With reference to FIG. 2J: The finished pair of secondary top halves of FIG. 2I (see FIG. 6A for this version's finished crown).

FIGS. 2F, 2H and 2J illustrate three different versions of a finished section of the present invention, the difference being in the style of how the top halves were cut. This paragraph will discuss a fourth version of the same finished section of the present invention; the difference in this version being in the style of how a star is cut. Referring back to FIG. 2E, the inception of the star being recut is shown. As discussed in paragraphs [0030] and [0031], the star in FIG. 2E is being recut to be 50% to the girdle from its previous status of 15% to the girdle (shown in FIG. 2D). As discussed in paragraph [0031] above, the star becomes 7 or 8 degrees higher through this procedure. FIG. 2E shows the star almost finished with the dotted lines indicating the finished star (as shown in FIG. 2F). In this fourth version the star of FIG. 2E may be complete as illustrated, omitting the dotted lines, leaving a narrow facet above. In this version the star may be approximately 45% to the girdle or, if cut on a slightly higher angle, approximately 50% to the girdle. (See FIG. 7A for this version's finished crown). It should be noted that although FIG. 7A's illustration of the finished crown shows the style of this star with the top halve style of FIG. 2H, the style of this star may be with any top halve style presented in this patent.

With reference to FIG. 3A: The dotted facet indicates the first secondary pavilion cut in completion on the finished traditional bottom, cut approximately ½ degree flatter than the eight pavilions on the bottom, advancing into the culet slightly. (See FIG. 3B for finished bottom). It should be noted that (a) the bottom halves, e of FIG. 1C, should be cut properly, as discussed regarding top halves at the end of the paragraph [0018] above, illustrated in FIG. 1A and discussed above in paragraphs [0024] and [0038] (in the case of bottom halves the bottom halves will be approximately 1¼ degrees higher than main pavilions, y of FIG. 1C), (b) the bottom halves, e of FIG. 1C, should reach approximately 82% (indicated by arrows in FIG. 1A) to the culet (indicated by arrow in FIG. 1D). These two conditions (a) and (b) pertain to the standard bottom (a) illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1D and (b) illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D. These conditions should be met before this procedure illustrated in FIG. 2K and described in this paragraph. As shown in FIG. 2K, the bottom halves (indicated by x) affected by this secondary dotted pavilion are left significantly lower than bottom halves (indicated by e) unaffected by this procedure. If condition (b) of 82% is met, the bottom halves marked x may remain as they are. See FIG. 3B for finished bottom. It should be noted that this is one version in this present invention's bottom, complementing any version of the crown shown in the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3B, a finished bottom of FIG. 3A is shown indicating primary bottom mains at 41° and secondary mains at 40.5°.

With reference to FIG. 3C, a second version of secondary bottom mains is offered. The inception of the new secondary main indicated by x beginning from culet (centerpoint of the bottom) approximately one full degree flatter (in this case) 39.5° than original secondary main of the present invention, causing the vertical lines of the new secondary mains (indicated by arrows) intersecting the mains of the standard cut, to be parallel to each other. The horizontal line originating from culet, advancing toward the girdle reaches to the points of the bottom halves (indicated by dotted horizontal line of finished new secondary main of the present invention). It may also be noted that the dotted finished secondary main also advances into and past the center point of the bottom.

With reference to FIG. 3D, finished new secondary bottom main of FIG. 3C, complementing any version of the crown shown in the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3E, finished bottom of FIG. 3D with new secondary mains. It may be noted that after the procedure of FIG. 3C is done on the otherseven secondary mains of the present invention, the point of the culet in FIG. 3B, which was lost in FIGS. 3C and 3D is back in place in FIG. 3E.

With reference to FIG. 8A: The standard round stone is shown in profile view as in FIG. 1A with the only difference being the status of the top halves being “pasted” or “painted”. The only way to see this in a diagram is by viewing the profile. In the profile of FIG. 1A the junctions where the top halves meet at center of bezels are into the girdle identically to how deep into the girdle the junctions where the lines between the top halves are (as indicated by circles). In the profile of FIG. 8A, the junctions where the lines between the top halves are (indicated by squares) do not advance into the girdle as deep as the junctions where the top halves meet at center of bezels are into the girdle (indicated by circles). The cause for this is that in FIG. 8A the top halves instead of being 6 degrees higher than bezels as in FIG. 1A (see last sentence of paragraph [0002] above), the top halves of FIGS. 8A are only approximately 1 degree higher than the bezels. This is what the industry labels “pasted” or “painted” tope halves and will hurt the “cut grade” as discussed in the first paragraph of this invention. There are finished standard diamonds finished as in FIG. 8A because the girdle is too thin on those diamonds of the junctions between the bezels and pavilions of those standard cut diamonds to cut top halves properly, as cut in FIG. 1A. The consequence would be a knife edge girdle (see FIG. 11A and discussion in paragraph [0051] below).

With reference to FIG. 9A: Procedure is identical to procedure of FIG. 2A described in paragraph [0026]. Results are identical also with one exception. In FIG. 2A the secondary bezel reaches point c without advancing into girdle because point c is already in the girdle properly being that the original top halves of the standard stone were not “pasted”. In FIG. 9A being that the top halves of the standard stone were pasted, the line between traditional top halves did not advance into the girdle as deep as center of bezel. See FIG. 8A—centers of bezels indicated by circles and lines between top halves indicated by squares. The thinnest point in the girdle though is between those two points when top and bottom halves are properly cut as seen in FIG. 11A, and to leave girdle “knife edge” indicated by arrow in FIG. 11A is unacceptable. Leaving the girdle thicker by the line between the top halves, however, besides being unsymmetrical also minimizes the sharpness of the stone. Therefore, in FIG. 9A, even though the girdle may not get thinner at center of top half indicated by arrow, the secondary bezel may advance into the girdle at junctions indicated by squares in FIG. 8A, evening them with junctions indicated by circles in FIG. 8A without thinning the girdle at center of top halves indicated by arrows in FIG. 8A, as seen in illustration of the dotted finished secondary bezel in FIG. 9A. See FIG. 10C for profile of finished stone with this procedure with arrow indicating the thinnest point of the girdle and x identifying a finished secondary bezel of this procedure. (For just pair of secondary bezels being finished, see FIG. 9D).

With reference to FIG. 9B; finished secondary bezel of FIG. 9A is shown.

With reference to FIG. 9C; see paragraphs [0027] and [0043] above.

With reference to FIG. 9D; finished pair of secondary bezels of FIG. 9C.

With reference to FIG. 9E; see paragraph [0030] above.

With reference to FIG. 9F; finished star of FIG. 9E. Procedure of FIG. 9G may be eliminated leaving FIG. 9F as an illustration of one version of a finished section's facet arrangement of the present invention's finished crown. See paragraph [0031] above.

With reference to FIG. 9G; see paragraph [0032] above. In this figure, the top halves do not reach the line between secondary bezels because this is a situation in which the standard stone that this procedure was done on is the standard cut of FIG. 8A, in which the thinnest point of the girdle indicated by arrows in FIG. 8A (before this procedure), FIG. 9G (in process of this procedure), and FIG. 10C (on finished stone of this procedure) may not get thinner. See paragraphs [0042] and [0043] above.

With reference to FIG. 9H; the finished pair of top halves of FIG. 9G is shown. See paragraph [0033] above. See FIG. 10A for this version's finished crown.

With reference to FIG. 11A: This is the third and last scenario of a standard round stone from which this present invention may be readily obtained without recutting the foundation of the standard diamond. The first is FIG. 1A which is a perfectly cut stone. The second is FIG. 8A which is a perfectly cut stone except for the pasted top halves. The third and present scenario of FIG. 11A has perfectly cut top halves with everything else perfect, except that the foundation was cut too thin at the junctions for perfectly cut top halves resulting in the “knife edge” girdle of FIG. 11A. FIGS. 1D, 8D and 11D show the thickness of the girdle at one of these junctions, each one at the junction between the bezel and pavilion which is the foundation of the stone. The encircled section of FIG. 1D is thicker than the other two, allowing for perfectly cut top halves.

The other two FIGS. 8D and 11D have the same thickness at the encircled junctions but FIG. 11D has a knife edge because instead of being cut with pasted halves as in FIG. 8D, the top halves were made perfectly, resulting in an unacceptable knife edge girdle. It is this knife edge girdle that is the focus of FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C.

With reference to FIG. 12A: This illustrates one section with the “knife edge” girdle of FIG. 11A. Encircled is the “knife edge” girdle.

With reference to FIG. 12B: This procedure eliminates the “knife edge” girdle of FIG. 11A without reducing the size of the bezels or opening up the top halves at the center of the bezel, resulting in a “modified” round diamond. FIG. 12B illustrates four narrow rectangular facets with parallel lines, the inception of each on the encircled areas of FIG. 12A, where the girdle is “knife edge”. Upon inception, these facets give those knife edge points a width. As these facets get longer they get wider (see dotted lines).

These facets are adjacent, parallel, and lined up with the 16 top and bottom halves (see profiles of FIGS. 13C and 14C) resulting in a 16-sided stone. (See top views of FIGS. 13A and 14A and bottom views of FIGS. 13B and 14B.) The dotted lines indicate the finished girdle facets.

With reference to FIG. 12C: The finished girdle facets of FIG. 12B.

With reference to FIGS. 12D-12N: Procedures and information are identical to FIGS. 2A-2J and paragraphs [0026] to [0036].

With reference to Sheets 13 and 14: Two finished versions of 16-sided, modified round stones in top, bottom, and profile views of FIGS. 12D-12N.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A system and method for enhancing the brilliance of a gemstone which comprises cutting and arranging facets as described above. 